About The Radiators
Australia’s Hardest Working ROCK Band
Few survive the Rock ‘n Roll road to stardom but THE RADIATORS are Rock’s greatest survivors! They are approaching 30 years of outstanding music, exciting and sometimes controversial lyrics, more than 4,000 electrifying live performances and platinum and gold album sales.
THE RADIATORS debuted late 1978. Their first album “Feel the Heat” was released late 1979 and by March 1980 these Aussie Rock Icons had achieved platinum status.
Little did they then know they would go on to forge a unique sound and influence thousands of music lovers throughout Australia.
Since 1978 THE RADIATORS have achieved many “firsts”* First Australian Band to have advance/presales on a debut album (6,000 copies of “Feel the Heat” had been sold before it was released);
* First Australian Band to achieve platinum status and a Top Ten position with their first two albums;
* First Australian Band to play more than 320 gigs in their first year of formation;
* One of very few Rock Bands worldwide to have survived so long with their original frontline intact.
from TheRadiators.com
History
Formed in Western Sydney in 1978, The Radiators were originally lumped in with the New Wave scene in Sydney but in reality were a pub rock band with a sense of humour. In their hey-day they were one of the hardest working bands in Australia, touring constantly and racking up over 2,500 gigs by the early 1990s.
Their first single (on WEA) was Comin’ Home which reached number 33 (and probably earned them their New Wave tag). Fess’ Song (“I take drugs, I like sex, I like looking at dirty pictures, I like lying in bed with Fess”) and the album Feel The Heat followed and The Rads’ supported The Police on their Australian Tour.
Hit And Run was the third single lifted from their debut LP which went on to sell 90,000 copies. In 1981 they changed record labels and released Roomful Of Diamonds. 1982 brought the singles Up For Grabs and Nothing’s Changed. A new contract with EMI produced the album Scream Of The Real and the singles No Tragedy and You.
Another LP followed in 1984 (Life’s A Gamble) along with 3 singles; The Beatles’ Revolution, Life’s A Gamble and A Bit Of Pain Never Hurts. Long-serving drummer Chris Tagg left in June 1984 to be replaced by a string of others. The band with more record labels than hot dinners continued recording well into the 90s but by then their brand of boogie-influenced rock had been superseded by more alternative guitar bands. But, being the pub-rock warhorses that they were, The Radiators would not stop.
The Radiators (still one of the hardest working bands in the land) still play live in Australia today (I saw them in January 2003 actually, and despite the absence of as keyboard player these days, these guys still R.O.C.K). Of special note is the bands most (in)famous song (and solid live favourite), a charming little ditty entitled Give Me Head which is about, well . . . you work it out!
from Nostalgia Central
Members
- Mick Buckley – Drums
- Brendan Callinan – Keys
- Brad Heaney – Drums
- Mark Lucas – Drums
- Brian Nichol – Vocals
- Steven “Fess” Parker – Guitar
- Marcel Rodeka – Drums
- Chris Tagg – Drums
- Geoff Turner – Bass
Recordings
- Feel The Heat – 1980 (platinum)
- Up For Grabs – 1981 (gold)
- You Have The Right To Remain Silent – 1982 (platinum)
- Scream Of The Real – 1983 (gold)
- Life’s A Gamble – 1984
- Nasty Habits In Nice Children – 1987
- Gimme Live – 1988
- Hard Core – 1991
- Radiators – 1994
- In Their Element – 1995
- Stone – 1995
- In The Roar – 1997
- Radiology, The Complete Anthology – 2000
- Smoke And Mirrors – 2000
- 25th Anniversary CD – 2004
Other Resources
- www.theradiators.com
- Wikipedia
- The Radiators MySpace page
- Nostalgia Central
- The Radiators page of Our Online Store
Known Gigs
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 29th 1983 | Radiators in Somersby | Narara Music Festival |
| Sun, May 15th 1983 | Radiators in Bankstown | Bankstown Paceway |
| + The Angels, The Church, The Expression | ||
| Sat, Feb 17th 1990 | Radiators in Ermington | Ermington Hotel |
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Mark Lucas my drum teacher is AWSOME at the drums i respect him and the Radiators
Radiate on!!
Brian teaches my daughter in the Choir at the local primary school and he’s playing his songs for the school’s ’80′s night
Brian Rocks!!!
my name is morgan and i reckon hit and run is the best song ever made by the radiators its cool
Sure came a long way since “The Undecided” @ Bega High School, 1968 !!! Rock on Brian and Fess….
I seen them play there first gig together at blacktown civic center,i have since seen them over 300 times ! Even have there name tattooed on my leg.
Each time the Radiators came to coffs harbour my friends and I would always go and see them. I missed them this time hopefully they will come back agian.
Keep the rock comin Brian,Fess,Geoff & Marcus see u at Penshurst rsl u will know who I am.
does anyone remember michael stibbard , he used to be a roady for the radiators
I LOVE YOU RADIATORS!! COME TO SYDNEY!!!
followed the Rads up and down the east coast in the early 80′s, pity i dont remember much of it but i’ll never forget it…
second album was called up for grabs, single was roomful of diamonds
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